Page 38 of Lera of Lunos
“Griorgi is working with Mors?” The captain’s attention snapped to Lera and Tye, the professional assessment in his pale-blue eyes a stark contrast to Xane’s absurdity.
The prince’s hands tightened on his armrests, the rapid pounding of his heart visible in the soft triangle of his neck. Bloody stars, the prince wasn’t being stupid—he was simply, disgustingly terrified. Having hidden his head in the sand for weeks, the coward had no notion of how to handle either danger or the truth. And if Tye remembered correctly, the only thing more frightening to Xane than Mors was his own father—who’d be furious to learn of Xane’s delay.
“Your Highness,” Lera said, plainly making a similar assessment. In her dress of flowing green silk, Tye’s Lilac Girl was as bright and potent as a summer meadow rippling in the sun. Despite being the smallest figure in the throne room, the radiance of her personality filled the space more than the prince himself did. Crouching before Xane’s chair, Lera gentled her voice. “We need to take action.”
Xane nodded slowly. Rose to his feet. Paced the room. “Here is what we are going to do,” he said finally, turning to face them after three rotations. “Mullen will redraft the gibberish he’s been writing into a—”
“Stop.” Tye’s order echoed through the room, surprising him as much as Xane. His mouth dried but his chin rose nonetheless. Three centuries ago, Xane destroyed him. Tye couldn’t let it happen again—to anyone. Especially not with Lera watching. Taking the two strides to the prince, Tye grabbed his tunic. Up close, Xane smelled of cinnamon perfume and the roast duck he ate for lunch—and acrid fear. “This isn’t about covering up your incompetence, you little shit. This is about preventing the deaths of thousands. Maybe more. Understand?”
Xane’s pale-green eyes flashed. He managed to look down his nose at Tye even with the latter holding him on tiptoes. “I understand that I’m the one who’s kept your wench of a sister employed, when there are many males who’d have taken her in for other means.” Xane’s voice drops. “You might imagine you have some misguided threads of authority, but the reality is that the Citadel’s power ends at the border. Here, Tyelor, you are atmycommand. Do exactly what I say and I will confine the punishment to you alone. Disobey and...” Xane smiled cruelly at Lera.
Before Tye could reply, Lera grinned, showing her teeth. “I’d like to see you try, princeling.”
Xane growled, shoving Tye’s chest. When that failed to do anything, the prince turned toward the captain. “Mullen, take that wench into custody. And don’t be gentle about it.”
Mullen’s head snapped up, his body staying rigidly in place. “On what charges, sir?”
“On the order of the prince of Blaze,” Xane shot back. When Mullen still hesitated, the prince’s voice chilled to ice. “I understand that your son joined the guard ranks recently. I do hate to see young ones’ careers end before they start, but discipline must be maintained. Don’t you agree?”
Mullen shot Tye an apologetic look and rose, taking a determined step toward Lera.
Ice shot through Tye’s veins and his magic surged, sparks dancing along his skin. Throwing Xane to the floor, Tye advanced on him with red-tinged fury. He had tried to be the kind of controlled male that River would have been, he truly had. He’d let Xane’s taunts go unpunished, had focused on the grim reality of the situation, had urged action that went beyond their centuries-old conflict.
But no more.
“What are you going to do, Tyelor?” the prince spat, spots of red appearing high on his polished cheeks. “Attempt to kill me? How do you imagine the future unfurling after that?” Xane snorted, a shield shimmering into place around him. “Mullen, you have your orders. And search the whore for weapons while you’re at it.”
“Get your hands off Leralynn,” a hard voice said from the doorway behind them. A voice Tye hadn’t heard in weeks. “In the name of the Citadel.”
“Touch my brother and I will kill you,” added another. “That’s in my own name.”
Turning to the door, Tye beheld his sister, her uniform still spattered with laundry soap, a set of keys dangling from her hand. Beside Saritta, Viper and his four quint brothers stood in grim formation, weapons and magic at the ready.
Xane scrambled to his feet. “The Citadel has no business in Blaze.”
“Oh, my mistake,” Viper said, his sharp features lit with cool humor. “We’ll rip you to shreds for our own pleasure and bear the elders’ punishment later.” He turned to take in Tye and Lera with his turquoise gaze. “The Elders Council received Autumn’s letter and has been gathering forces at the border. Klarissa is attempting to open talks with the Blaze king directly but getting no response. Word reached us that you two were here, and seeing as I owe Leralynn my life, we decided to try and be of use.”
Relief washing over him, Tye left off threatening Xane to face Viper and Saritta fully. Saritta—despite having plainly led Viper’s quint here—still refused to look at him. One step at a time. “This is welcome news,” Tye said, meaning every word. “Blaze is utterly unprepared and will need the Citadel’s help tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Mullen, who’d been standing uncertainly in the middle of the mess, now turned his intelligent eyes on Tye. “Have you reason to believe something will happen tomorrow, specifically?”
“Tomorrow is Samhain,” Tye said. “Not only will most of Blaze be out celebrating, but the wards between Lunos and Mors will also be thinnest then. If Griorgi hopes to open a portal large enough for a Mors army, Samhain is his best chance.”
Mullen shook his head, blue eyes widening. “Sir, BlazecelebratesSamhain tomorrow, but that was a decision of convenience that Blaze royalty made centuries ago, to ensure the celebration falls on a rest day. Few beings pay any mind to it now, but my grandmother on my father’s side—”
“When is Samhain?” Lera grabbed Tye’s upper arm hard enough to bruise, her eyes boring into the captain. “When does it fall by the celestial calendar?”
Viper stepped forward, touching Lera’s shoulder as he spoke softly. “The true day? It’s tonight, lass.”
29
Lera
Tonight.Tonight. My eyes stray to a window—the dimming light beyond it more frightening than any weapon—then drop, absurdly, to my clothes. A silk dress. No sword. No armor. Nothing. I pull my worries back where they belong. Even if Xane sees reason now, will there be time to get troops in place? Will River and the others still be alive hours from now, or will their utility to Griorgi have ended, snuffing out their lives?
A shiver races through me at that, silencing all thought.
Rap. Rap. Rap.The phantom sound of qoru legs tapping on stone echoes in my memory, the havoc of both Karnish and Coal’s nightmares replaying on my mind’s stage.Rap. Rap. Rap.
